Page 22 - May 2016

A Life Based On A Strong Work
Ethic And A Deep Love Of Horses
by Joyce Loomis Kernek
Margaret was the NCRA Barrel Race Champion in 1960, the same year she married Virgil Hawkins. © Kendra Burgess
Margaret Chamberlain was born on Friday the 23rd of December in 1927. She was the first of three
children born to James L. “Jim” and Irma Chamberlain. She grew up on the Figure 2 Ranch, which was started by her grandfather southwest of North Platte, Nebraska, and north of the former town of Dickens. Margaret and her siblings, Walt and Beverly, have all
left their mark on the history of the Nebraska Sandhills cattle and horse industries.
“Daddy said you should learn to like to work. It will be the source of the greatest pleasure in your life. I had to get older before I could appreciate the magnitude of his statement.”
“I don’t care anything about going to Hawaii or Timbuktu for vacation. It don’t interest me. But I like to go look at some of the good racing studs of the day.”
Margaret, her brother Walt, sister Beverly, & dog Jack in a harness pulling a cart Margaret made from a dynamite box and an old bicycle.
20 SPEEDHORSE, May 2016
© Angie Storer
© Kendra Burgess